Urban Management
Arastoo Yari hesar; Ali Dashti
Abstract
Islamic councils and municipalities are the main pillars of city administration in Iran. The importance and position of the Islamic Council of Cities as a policy-making body in the above laws has caused these councils to have significant effects on the processes and performance of urban management, and ...
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Islamic councils and municipalities are the main pillars of city administration in Iran. The importance and position of the Islamic Council of Cities as a policy-making body in the above laws has caused these councils to have significant effects on the processes and performance of urban management, and in other words, the performance of urban management is a function of the decisions and policies approved by this body, so it is necessary in order to harm This body should be evaluated for performance analysis and formulation of damage removal strategies, and naturally, the most effective tool for evaluating the performance of councils is their approvals. Based on this, the purpose of this research is to evaluate the approvals of the Islamic Council of Tehran in the fifth period and to analyze their contents quantitatively and qualitatively. This research is a type of content analysis research. The data required in this research has been collected by field and documentary methods. The most important reference for the required data is the comprehensive system of approvals of the Islamic Council of Tehran. The statistical population of this research consists of all the approvals of the fifth term council of Tehran city. The results of this research show that the Islamic Council of the fifth term of the city of Tehran, although it has achieved considerable success and growth in terms of quantitative indicators, but the examination of the content of the approvals shows the failure of this council in carrying out the missions assigned in the Law on Organizations, Duties and Powers of Councils. is islamic A major part of the performance of this term of the council is made up of approvals that practically do not have much effect on increasing the quality of urban life, and there is a significant gap between the needs of citizens and the content of the approvals of the Tehran City Council. Also, the main focus of the Council's approvals has been on municipal issues rather than urban issues. Based on this, the suggested solutions include the focus of the council on regulatory issues up to legislation, distancing from superficial and theoretical issues, and addressing the main problems of Tehran city, and evaluating the operationalization of the council's previous approvals.
Urban Management
Behnaz Aminzadeh; SeyedHadi Hosseini; Seyed Reza Mousavipour
Abstract
Highlights
Several laws and regulations have been implemented to bring order to the disorderly appearance of new buildings in Tehran; however, a significant level of confusion persists.
The compliance level with the official document requirements pertaining to the facade components of buildings in ...
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Highlights
Several laws and regulations have been implemented to bring order to the disorderly appearance of new buildings in Tehran; however, a significant level of confusion persists.
The compliance level with the official document requirements pertaining to the facade components of buildings in Hakimieh neighborhood, Tehran, stands at 58%.
The deficiency in both the content and structure of the documents has contributed to a decline in the realization of the identity components of building facades, as outlined in the official documents.
Introduction:
The facade, serving as a crucial link between people and the urban environment, plays a pivotal role in shaping a city's identity. While changes in facades signify societal progress, the disconnect between new buildings and local identities contributes to urban chaos. Despite recent efforts, the persistent visual disturbance in cityscapes raises a critical question. This research aims to analyze theoretical literature, compare findings with legal frameworks, and assess the realization of building facade criteria in new structures in Tehran's Hakimieh neighborhood. Through interviews, the study seeks to uncover reasons for non-compliance.
Theoretical Framework:
The significance of the urban landscape lies in its identity and connection with perspectives, as explored by Cullen (1971). A visually appealing cityscape enhances urban identity, characterized by building facades, structural heights, and distinctive urban spaces. On a smaller scale, cityscapes encompass elements such as building facade features, material composition, color and texture, light and shadow play, windows, sidewalk features, and urban furnishings (Doyran et al., 2011). The building facade, as a crucial variable, influences the identity aspects of urban landscapes by establishing correlations and structural order within urban environments.
Methodology:
A comprehensive mixed-method approach, combining quantitative and qualitative methodologies, guides this research. The initial phase involves an in-depth analysis of literature and theoretical foundations related to building facade identity components. The field observation stage evaluates buildings constructed within the last three years in Hakimieh neighborhood based on the extracted components. Data collection involves examining approximately 300 buildings, using a 5-point Likert scale to assess the fulfillment or non-fulfillment of facade identity components. Interviews with city officials, builders, and consumers aim to extract nuanced insights from the research findings.
Results and Discussion:
The degree of fulfillment of the country's official documents' requirements for facade identity components in buildings less than three years old in Hakimieh neighborhood is determined to be 58%. A detailed analysis reveals the highest realization rates in components banning the use of curtained facades (96.4%), unconventional forms (94.7%), and construction of facilities in a visible manner (82.7%). Governance strategies and guidelines, while not fully executed and occasionally conflicting with consumer preferences, have nevertheless influenced nearly 60% of the observed urban landscape.
Conclusion:
The chaotic state of Hakimieh neighborhood's building facades is not solely the outcome of implementing laws and approvals; various contributing factors and sometimes contradictory approaches have intensified the crisis. Notably, the lack of specific criteria in urban planning and architecture, stemming from a collective and widely accepted perspective, exacerbates the challenges in the existing situation. In conclusion, this critical review sheds light on the intricacies of urban facades, emphasizing the need for a holistic and comprehensive approach to enhance urban identity and mitigate visual disturbances.
Urban Management
davood Jamini; Ali shamsoddini; Alireza Jamshidi
Abstract
Highlights- Participation of citizens in various urban affairs brings many benefits such as enhancement of social capital, satisfaction, and improvement of the civil society.- A condition for achievement of sustainable development in today’s cities is the participation of citizens in its various ...
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Highlights- Participation of citizens in various urban affairs brings many benefits such as enhancement of social capital, satisfaction, and improvement of the civil society.- A condition for achievement of sustainable development in today’s cities is the participation of citizens in its various affairs.- The constituent components of citizens’ participation include mental-spiritual participation, participation in provision of human resources, political participation, and financial participation.- A low level of participation of citizens in urban management can be attributed to various factors, including the weakness of city managers and the rules and regulations concerning their selection, citizens’ lack of concern, etc. IntroductionCitizens’ participation in various matters of urban spaces is one of the most important issues in achievement of sustainable urban development, an acceptable level of which is one of the most significant concerns of policy makers and urban planners. For achievement of sustainable development in Ilam, a border city in Iran, it is of particular importance to investigate the status of citizen participation in urban management and identify the factors affecting the level thereof, which makes up the main purpose of this study.Theoretical FrameworkLiving in a democratic society requires people to play an active role in various aspects of their lives (Predescu & Darjan, 2010: 3241). Citizen participation is of great importance in systems claiming democracy (Ginieniewicz, 2007: 328) and is vital for any democratic society, and democracy can be developed only through involved, informed citizens. In addition, it is important to have citizens ready to take responsibility for changing the reality of today’s world (Manganelli et al., 2012: 1476). For this reason, public participation is seen today as a new strategy in development (Khajeh Shahkoohi et al., 2015: 4). An inductive look at the existing patterns of participation in the world indicates that they can be classified according to three different criteria: the type of participation (1- decision-making, 2- financing, and 3- manpower), the field of participation in activities (1- construction, 2- environment, 3- ensuring city safety, 4- monitoring, 5- municipal services, and 6- social welfare), and the type of organization (1- spontaneous, self-motivated organizations and 2- formal, motivated organizations). Of course, it is also possible to classify participation patterns based on the activity to perform which the participation is made (Rezaei and Asyabani, 2018: 146).In a general conclusion, it can be stated that citizen participation in urban management involves different aspects and a particular position in the issue of sustainable urban development. However, different factors affect the level of citizen participation in urban management, which can vary by urban space.MethodologyThis is a descriptive-correlational applied quantitative study using the analysis of covariance-variance among correlation methods. The research area is Ilam, and the research population includes 194030 citizens of the city who are over 18 years old. 383 citizens were selected based on Cochran’s formula using stratified random sampling. In addition to documentary studies, the main research tool for data collection was a researcher-made questionnaire. It should be noted that the design of the questionnaire used to measure citizen participation in urban management was based on the works by Amirahmadi et al. (2016) and Meymandi Parizi (2017). The validity of the research tool was evaluated and confirmed through consultation of experts and university teachers (face validity) and also using convergence. Combined reliability coefficients (greater than 0.7) and Cronbach’s alpha (greater than 0.7) were used to measure reliability. The two methods of descriptive statistics (frequency, frequency percentage, mean, and standard deviation) and inferential statistics (correlation analysis and structural equation modeling) were used to analyze the data. It should be noted that one statistical method used in the field of structural equation modeling is partial least squares, calling for the use of relevant software such as SPSS and SmartPLS to analyze the data.Results and DiscussionThe results of the structural model analysis demonstrated that the variable of satisfaction with the performance of urban managers exhibited a significant effect on other independent variables. Thus, it had the greatest impact on the variables of proper urban governance (with an impact factor of 0.275), job satisfaction (with an impact factor of 0.262), and social capital (with an impact factor of 0.255). On the other hand, the variable of satisfaction with the performance of urban managers exhibited the slightest effect (with an impact factor of 0.05) on the level of citizen participation in urban management, where we can point out the low level of citizen satisfaction with the performance of urban managers (2.37 on average).ConclusionThe results demonstrated that there were significant relationships between citizen participation in urban management in the study area (the dependent variable of the research) and job satisfaction, satisfaction with the performance of urban managers, social capital, proper urban governance, quality of life (negative correlation), and sense of belonging to the place. Thus, it can be stated that the level of citizen participation decreases and increases as the level of each of these variables is decreased and increased. The results obtained from the structural analysis model (with the partial least squares method) indicated that the independent research variables were capable of explaining 75.8% of the variance in Ilam citizens’ participation in urban management. The values of the coefficients for the impacts of each of those variables on the dependent variable include 0.35 (quality of life), 0.05 (satisfaction with the performance of urban managers), -0.075 (social capital), 0.131 (job satisfaction), 0.372 (proper urban governance), and 0.275 (spatial affiliation).
Urban Management
Gholamreza Kazemian; Hosein Aslipour; Arash Taqipour Akhtari
Abstract
Highlights
- Realization of urban construction as a social construct forms a knowledge stock to mine theoretical concepts and develops the goodness of urban building governance at the same time.
- One of the most important categories in the identification and comprehension of actors’ behavior ...
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Highlights
- Realization of urban construction as a social construct forms a knowledge stock to mine theoretical concepts and develops the goodness of urban building governance at the same time.
- One of the most important categories in the identification and comprehension of actors’ behavior and expectations in the field of Tehran’s construction management in the context of the truth revealed in the study of everyday social life is the distinction between land developers as industrial investors (those whose capitals come mainly from built spaces) and land developers as commercial investors (those whose main capitals involve cash and who move between different markets to earn profit), along with the diverse role of real-estate agents as appraisers or marketers.
- A categorized, cyclical statement of assumptions about urban construction management is provided between the three principles of urban management, built environment, and land developers.
Introduction
According to the citizens, it is years that the urban physical space of Tehran has been characterized by uneven growth and increasing injustice, and its spatial development management is also described as inefficient by various experts. Urban construction is the act of creating a physical space to advance urban functions, and the city’s spatial organization is formed in solidarity with its continuity. Thus, management of the spatial-physical development of the city is a mission pursued by urban management, and the existence of an efficient, effective urban management, as a government infrastructure and an executive attempt to realize good governance and then sustainable urban development is a matter of consensus. By accepting the spatial inefficiencies in Tehran’s urban development and rejecting the gap between content and form, this research introduces its problem as an explanation and interpretation of how Tehran’s urban construction management system functions.
Theoretical Framework
Construction is always a different experience and creates a heterogeneous good. The literature review also demonstrates that each research has described urban construction from its own theoretical-philosophical perspective and background. In fact, the variety of theoretical approaches to urban construction held by political philosophies is accompanied by a unique resultant of the actuals at any time. Therefore, construction is introduced sometimes as the agent of meeting expectations and sometimes as the cause of the current conditions. This gives construction the status of a social construct. Due to the historical dependence of actualized behaviors on the institutional context and variation in functions, one should refer to the conceptual roots of the phenomenon to study the evolutionary path thereof, focusing on the dynamic, unbalanced behavior of social systems.
Therefore, an aspect of truth used to explain such a phenomenon that is created, lived, and understood by citizens is the spaces of representation or the part where the land developers (constructors) live the urban construction management system. That is, it is not the same as what the authorities assign to the construction through administrative instructions, nor as how the experts describe the urban construction management system. Rather, it is by being immersed in the path of building and functioning as a land developer that the unique spatiality of every society can be justified.
Methodology
Since urban construction management is recognized as a multiple, dynamic unit (mutual, continuous influence of constituent dimensions), abduction of the lived experiences of the active land developers requires immersion in data, which are collected through adoption of an intersubjective, empathic approach. Therefore, the strategy of this qualitive research is phenomenological, categorized under the interpretive paradigm. The research population consists of Tehran’s land developers who were selected using purposive sampling. Finally, eight in-depth interviews were conducted. Thus, the researchers clustered and finally combined the lived experiences to achieve a rich description while observing Epoché’s principles throughout the research. It should be mentioned that the thematic analysis technique was used for horizontalization, clustering, and classification of data.
Results and Discussion
As a result of the conducted interviews, transcriptions, and extracted concepts, 67 basic themes were identified in the first step after several rounds of editing. Then, the themes were classified under 17 organizing themes. In fact, an attempt was made at this stage to cluster the intersection of the basic themes, which was realized through movements back and forth between the holistic and detailed approaches and immersion in the data. The process was repeated to form global themes, and four were finally distinguished, including the basic assumptions regarding Tehran urban construction, land developers’ enabling factors, the inefficiencies imposed by the construction management system, and various stakeholders’ roles in the urban construction of Tehran and its consequences.
Conclusion
The findings of this study demonstrated that Tehran’s construction management system is based on different actors’ cooperation to transform space into financial value, according to land developers’ lived experiences. Although there are actors here who link this financial value to the use value due to their natural need, their expertise, or the functional nature of the space, their influence is generally limited to setting minimums. Therefore, these actors do not have a high power with respect to others to influence the production of spaces. Finally, the urban construction management system of Tehran can be explained and interpreted as the system sought to stabilize its position and apply authority to obtain its required income by developing the physical urban environment to carry on missions whose violation would have political costs or legal consequences. Moreover, these measures are taken based on inefficient processes and contents, relying on constructors’ assets and skills at the cost of commodifying urban spaces.
Acknowledgment
This article is taken from the third author's master's dissertation on urban management, entitled "Explaining the Tehran’s Building Governance" and to the first author's supervisor and the second author's advisor at Allameh Tabataba'i Univsersity.
Urban Management
khatere amiri; mohammad Masoud; darioush moradi chadegani; negin sadeghy; faramarz Safi-Esfahani
Abstract
Highlights- The e-empowerment process is effective in the promotion of citizen participation and urban regeneration of neighborhoods in the city of Isfahan, Iran suffering urban decline.- The use case diagram of the e-empowerment process of Isfahan residents in areas suffering urban decline shows ...
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Highlights- The e-empowerment process is effective in the promotion of citizen participation and urban regeneration of neighborhoods in the city of Isfahan, Iran suffering urban decline.- The use case diagram of the e-empowerment process of Isfahan residents in areas suffering urban decline shows the relationship between users and their activities.- Requirements engineering was used for provision of the use case diagram of Isfahan urban decline e-empowerment. IntroductionAreas suffering urban decline are involved with an intertwined combination of physical, social, and economic problems that intensify various dimensions of urban decline (including economic decline, social decline, physical decline, and environmental decline) and reduce the quality of life for residents.Thus, sufficient motivation is provided for urban management and planning systems to intervene in these areas. A new method of intervention is to apply the urban regeneration approach.Based on public-private partnership, this approach leads to regeneration of dynamic urban spaces, in order to sustain and improve the quality of urban life. Accordingly, urban regeneration has put the community empowerment process on the agenda in order to increase the level of citizen participation of the residents of these areas so that they can solve their problems.The community empowerment follows to increase the residents’ shares in decision-making for the living environment in interaction with decision-makers and politicians. With the development of the information and communication technology (ICT), the interaction between politicians and residents is facilitated. Therefore, this article seeks to provide the e-empowerment use case diagram for implementation of cybernetic space for residents of areas suffering urban decline in Isfahan.Theoretical frameworkThis article introduces the following three concepts.A: Areas suffering urban declineThese areas are places with worn-out urban infrastructure, service, and access, unable to meet the needs of their residents. Due to the low income of the residents of these areas and the insufficient motivation for investors, improvement and renovation is difficult to achieve in these areas. The decline in these areas includes economic, social, physical, and environmental aspects.B: Community empowerment in cybernetic spaceThe process of community empowerment seeks to increase residents’ control and the resulting collective gains.This process follows from the decentralization of power, and attempts to upgrade residents’ power of decision-making about their living environment. The capabilities of cybernetic space facilitate the implementation of community empowerment in this field, which is known as e-empowerment. It facilitates communication between citizens and decision-makers for participation with awareness.C: Use case diagramThe diagram of communication between users and their activities in cyberspace is based on the information and communication technology (ICT). This template is a visual representation of the process implementation using the actions, tasks, and activities of the users of that process, which shows the hierarchy of activities in order to solve a problem, produce a product, or provide a type of service to a target population.MethodologyThis research is conducted in four stages, as follows.A. Analysis of the severity of urban decline in its four types in Isfahan, using the text analysis method (involving texts derived from programs and reports concerning the approvals of areas suffering urban decline).B. Requirements elicitation, including the following:a) analysis of the stakeholders involved in the regeneration of areas suffering urban decline in Isfahan, using the power-benefit matrix method, which utilizes a structured questionnaire for professionals.b) introduction of a community e-empowerment process particular to residents of areas suffering urban decline in Isfahan and use of the social survey method based on behavior measurement and Likert scale measurement, utilizing a structured questionnaire for residents.c) introduction of the implementation mechanism of the community e-empowerment process for residents of areas suffering urban decline in Isfahan using expert panel methods and interviews (involving questionnaires without a special structure for experts).C. Requirements analysis using expert panel methods and interviews (involving questionnaires without a special structure for experts).D. Presentation of the use case diagram’s process of community e-empowerment, dedicated to residents of areas suffering urban decline in Isfahan using the visual paradigm software.Discussion and findingsThe findings demonstrate that an appropriate e-empowerment process for residents of areas suffering urban decline in Isfahan involves the steps of e- education) with the characteristics of e-empowerment(, e-learning, awareness, e-consultation, and e-involvement. The effective users in this process include residents, facilitating experts, technical experts, instructors, support experts, and decision-makers.ConclusionUsers of the e-empowerment process (including residents, facilitating experts, technical experts, instructors, support experts, and decision-makers) communicate with each other in cybernetic space within the framework of a use Case diagram by performing the following activities and processes:A- participation and membership in virtual groups and communitiesB- going through the stages of community e-empowerment (teaching the empowerment process, assessing the skills of citizens, holding awareness-raising sessions, establishing and enhancing communications and interactions, creating a spirit of demand, and undertaking responsibility)C- information and mutual opinion announcement D- provision of decision-making skills and fundamentals.AcknowledgmentThis article is Retrieved from the Ph.D. Thesis in the field of urban planning entitled "The application of cybernetic space capacities to design community empowerment model urban decay areas Isfahan " by the first author with the guidance of the second author and the third author The fourth and fifth have been defended in the Islamic Azad University Isfahan (khorasgan) Branch.
Urban Management
sharifeh sargolzaei; mahmoud mohamdi; Reza Mokhtari. M.A.; Gholam Reza Shiran
Abstract
HighlightsThe paper considers organizational level and managers' viewpoint in investigating technology acceptance model.This paper proposed a citizen-based conceptual model on e-government acceptance for developing countries.The results of this research explore new constructs effecting decision about ...
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HighlightsThe paper considers organizational level and managers' viewpoint in investigating technology acceptance model.This paper proposed a citizen-based conceptual model on e-government acceptance for developing countries.The results of this research explore new constructs effecting decision about technology acceptance. Introduction Following the introduction of the concept of smart city, a wide range of organizations have sought to develop the application of new technologies in urban management and planning. Numerous research projects have been conducted to identify the aspects of acceptance and application of technology. However, very few have studied technology acceptance at an organizational level. Among the research projects focused on effective factors in technology acceptance at an organizational level, very few have been concerned with the effective aspects of technology acceptance in non-governmental organizations in developing countries. Therefore, such aspects have not been identified precisely for the municipality as a non-governmental organization in Iran. This can make it difficult to apply technology in the municipality or even cause such efforts to fail. Therefore, it seems necessary to conduct a comprehensive study in the area.Theoretical FrameworkThe review of the literature reveals that technology acceptance has been proposed in various fields such as many areas of human behavior. The most important theories in the area of technology acceptance include the theory of planned behavior (Ajzen, 1991), with over 67300 citations, the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (Venkatesh et al., 2003), with over 23870 citations, the theory of reasoned action (Fishbein and Ajzen, 1975), with over 52450 citations, the diffusion of innovations theory (Rogers, 1983), with over 100700 citations, and the technology acceptance model (Davis, 1989), with over 43980 citations in Google Scholar. Each of these theories represents a number of constructs that are important in the measurement of user intention about technology acceptance.Two research categories are identified here: studies on technology acceptance at the micro level, such as those focused on private organizations, and studies on technology acceptance at the macro level, such as those concerning e-governments or public organizations. The latter group investigate citizens’ acceptance of e-governments regardless of the organizational level and managers’ viewpoints. Based on the above theories, this group of studies seek to specify e-government acceptance by modeling user behavior. This paper proposed a citizen-based conceptual model of e-government acceptance for developing countries, seeking to identify the effectiveness of constructs on technology acceptance in a public organization, namely Isfahan Municipality.MethodologyThe objective of this research was to identify the factors effective on technology acceptance in the Isfahan municipality as a non-governmental organization. Given the subject of the research and the population, the grounded theory was used, which is one of the most efficient choices in qualitative research. For this purpose, a semi-structured questionnaire was designed based on the review of the literature and used for interviewing managers and senior experts in the Isfahan municipality. The grounded theory was extracted directly from data collected systematically during the research process and analyzed. In this method, the collected and analyzed data and the final theory are closely interrelated. Moreover, the analysis involves a confrontation between the researcher’s mind and the data. The purpose of this analytical method is to organize the data in specific categories based on their characteristics and dimensions and then to describe each of the categories. The results of the interviews were recorded as textual data using the Atlas.ti software, and were analyzed using the method of finite element analysis. Coding methods were employed to identify the effective categories and dimensions and their interrelations. Results and DiscussionThe context in which a technology is to be used, including the social, cultural, and political characteristics of the society, has an important role in the extent to which the technology gains acceptance. Another effective factor is the cooperation and participation of organizations and their ways of thinking and performance in that regard. It should be noted that these dimensions have indirect as well as direct effects on decision-making for technology acceptance, applied through moderating constructs. The results of this study demonstrated that 23 categories were effective on technology acceptance in the Isfahan municipality, which could be classified further into eight major groups. These include the background, causative, technical, encouraging, deterrent, moderating, decision-making, and consequential categories.The findings also indicated that the constructs proposed in this research were significantly different from those introduced in previous research. This could be due to two fundamental differences between this study and previous ones. Firstly, the present research examined the constructs of technology acceptance at the level of the organization, which involved different dimensions from those concerning the acceptance of technology at an individual level. Secondly, there were fundamental differences between the areas in which the data were compiled in the sample tests. In other words, this research was conducted in the context of the technical, cultural, political, economic, and social infrastructures of developing countries, leading to different user attitudes and views from those concerning developed countries. ConclusionThis paper aimed to generate a conceptual model to increase urban service technology acceptance in organizations by modeling the constructs affecting managers and experts in the municipality. It clarified the relationships among these constructs. Identification of these constructs and their relationships can be useful in the attempts to correct the process of technology acceptance in organizations, especially public ones. The results of this study are particularly important to managers, urban planners, and researchers studying technology acceptance with a smart city approach. The findings can facilitate the process of developing smart cities with a focus on municipalities. Moreover, the constructs presented in this research can be tested using quantitative methods in future research projects.AcknowledgmentThis article was extracted from a PhD thesis on urban planning entitled A Novel Framework for Urban Service Technology Adoption According to the Smart City Approach: Case Study of the Urban Service Technology in the Isfahan Municipality, defended by the first author under supervision of the second and third authors in the Art University of Isfahan.
Urban Management
sara vosoughi; Behnaz Aminzadeh
Abstract
Highlights: Justice, trust, effectiveness, intrusiveness, complexity, and revenue allocation are critical factors in the public acceptability of the Tehran congestion pricing scheme. Lack of trust and justice are the most important variables that reduce the public acceptability of the Tehran congestion ...
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Highlights: Justice, trust, effectiveness, intrusiveness, complexity, and revenue allocation are critical factors in the public acceptability of the Tehran congestion pricing scheme. Lack of trust and justice are the most important variables that reduce the public acceptability of the Tehran congestion pricing scheme. Perceived effectiveness of the Tehran congestion pricing reduces in the second year of the implementation of the scheme. 1. Introduction Congestion charging schemes are implemented in an increasing number of cities as a method of reducing traffic congestion and air pollution. Studies such as Schade & Schlag (2000: 93) and Huber et al. (2020:666) indicate that public acceptability plays a crucial role in the success of these schemes. According to research findings (Schmöcker et al., 2012: 15-17; Fujii et al., 2004: 290-293), factors influencing public acceptability vary by socioeconomic context. Given the absence of such studies in Iran, this paper investigates what factors affect the public acceptability of congestion charging schemes (2018-19) in Tehran. The answer to this question can be useful for urban authorities to better manage congestion charging schemes. 2. Theoretical Framework 2.1 Factors effective on public acceptance It is necessary to distinguish between the concepts of acceptability and acceptance. Acceptability concerns the attitude towards a specific object like congestion pricing. In contrast, acceptance pertains to some kind of behavior exhibited as a reaction to an object. It is assumed that attitudes guide people’s behaviors and reactions (Schade & Schlag, 2000: 5). Indeed, the public acceptability of congestion charging schemes is a crucial factor in specification of people’s reactions or behaviors in regard to them. A review of the literature on the public acceptability of transport pricing policies indicates several effective factors, including justice or fairness (Gu et al., 2018: 98; Jakobsson et al., 2000: 154-153; Ittner et al., 2003), expected effectiveness (Schuitema et al., 2010: 588; Jakobsson et al., 2000: 155-156), trust in the government (Sugiarto et al., 2020: 144-145; Grisolía et al., 2015: 38), perceived intrusiveness (Huber et al., 2020: 657), revenue allocation (Glavic et al., 2017: 81; Ubbels & Verhoef, 2005), problem awareness (Jaensirisak et al., 2005: 149-150; Schmöcker et al., 2012: 10), complexity (Gu et al., 2018: 98), social norms (Jakobsson et al., 2000: 154; Schade & Schlag, 2003: 48), and privacy (Ison & Rye, 2005: 461). The context (social, political, and economic) determines which of these factors are most effective on public judgment. 2.2. Case study The implementation of the congestion pricing scheme in Tehran started in 1980. Since then, the entry of private cars to the central business district (CBD) has been limited, and only drivers with permits have had access to the area. The main policy for reduction of congestion in the CBD of Tehran, specification of limited access areas has been implemented for nearly forty years. In 2018, the city administrators decided to change this policy to facilitate public access to the district, and proposed a congestion charging zone and a low-emission zone. All citizens can pay for daily charges to drive into the former zone, and have limited access (based on the number of days) into the latter. The main purpose of our research is to investigate what factors influence the public acceptability of this new congestion pricing scheme for the CBD of Tehran in two consecutive years (2018-2019). 3. Methodology The content analysis method is applied to analyze almost 350 online comments made by users on the news about Tehran congestion pricing schemes in 2018-2019. 4. Result and Discussion The findings indicate that six effective factors, including justice, trust, influence, intrusiveness, complexity, and revenue allocation, are critical in specification of the public opinion about the Tehran congestion pricing scheme. Problem awareness, social norms, and privacy—the other factors identified in the review of the literature—are not observed in the content analysis of the comments. The investigation demonstrates that the public acceptability of the Tehran congestion pricing scheme is heavily affected by two variables. Firstly, a low level of public trust in government policies causes a negative attitude toward them, with some arguing that the Tehran congestion pricing policy is not aimed at environmental concerns or congestion management, and it is the financial advantage of such policies that encourages the administrators to adopt them. Secondly, the public evaluates the Tehran congestion pricing scheme as unjust and unfair. According to the findings, low-income groups and residents of the congestion area perceive the scheme as less just because it does not consider their needs and conditions. This causes an increase in the sense of social discrimination, especially among low-income groups. Furthermore, the results show that the perceived effectiveness of the Tehran congestion pricing decreases in the second year of the implementation of the scheme. 5. Conclusion The results indicate that the lack of trust in local administrative policies and the sense of injustice are the most crucial variables in the public judgment of the Tehran congestion pricing scheme. Based on these findings, the authors provide recommendations for further studies on the impacts of the Tehran congestion scheme on public welfare in different income groups and the way the pricing systems can be adjusted to their different socio-economic needs. Furthermore, investigation of the methods of building trust in pricing policies can be useful for local administrators to better implement congestion pricing schemes around Iran.
Urban Management
Malihe Taghipour; aliakbar heidari; maryam haghayegh
Abstract
The rapid population growth and transformation of apartments into the dominant form of urban residence have created new health issues in human life. The consequences, threatening residents’ health, include increase in vitamin D deficiency, overweight, decrease in physical health, social isolation ...
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The rapid population growth and transformation of apartments into the dominant form of urban residence have created new health issues in human life. The consequences, threatening residents’ health, include increase in vitamin D deficiency, overweight, decrease in physical health, social isolation and a variety of social injuries, decrease in personal space, and decrease in mental health. From the World Health Organization’s point of view, health involves provision of three dimensions thereof at the same time: physical, mental, and social. In addition to the above, however, it seems that the economic index has a direct, immediate impact on individuals’ quality of life and health. Therefore, the present study sought to investigate the three aspects of health in terms of the achievement of cooperation with the fields of architecture, medical science, psychology, and social sciences in the preferences of people with different economic conditions upon selection of apartments as housing and the priorities of the components from the three areas that influenced their selections. In this descriptive survey, SPSS 22 and AMOS 23 were used for data analysis, and Friedman test and ANOVA were employed to examine the hypotheses. The results indicated that individuals’ economic and livelihood conditions affected their preferences and concern for the three dimensions (physical, mental, and social) of health in the area of housing. It is noteworthy that economic conditions are considered today as a health-threatening factor, hence their great significance in health policies and disease prevention and intervention measures. Furthermore, the results obtained from the paper emphasized the need to consider the effects of the physical components of buildings on residents’ health, where a building could prevent the occurrence of disease in the residents and prevent an excessive amount of money from being spent for treatment. These findings can provide useful guidelines for policy-makers in the field of construction and social institutions influencing the promotion of modern urban living patterns. What is clear is that the current pattern of modern urban living and housing common in Iran is an obsolete model imported from other countries regardless of the psychological, physical, and social aspects of individuals’ lives. It therefore fails to meet the current requirements of the society, and can have harmful physical, psychological, and social effects in the long run. Modification of this model requires cooperation from medical and social scientists, psychologists, and architects and designers, development of regulations and construction standards, and cooperation from the relevant bodies (the municipality and engineering system) and medical, humanities, and social scientists. Based on the results of studies that have critically scrutinized the details of living in apartments, the organizations in charge of construction can also take important steps in establishment of laws and regulations that affect residents’ health to improve their quality of life. Based on the comprehensive dimensions of health, further achievements will hopefully be made in the construction industry and the design of residential units, so that people’s health will not be threatened by buildings, which can even have therapeutic properties.
Urban Management
Daryoush Ardalan; zohreh davoudpour; Keramatollah Ziari
Abstract
The high rates of financial and human loss in natural disasters (particularly in recent decades) have led various countries and organizations to seek effective theories in that regard. Since 2005 (the Hugo Summit), the issue of resilience has been pursued seriously, addressing the idea of empowering ...
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The high rates of financial and human loss in natural disasters (particularly in recent decades) have led various countries and organizations to seek effective theories in that regard. Since 2005 (the Hugo Summit), the issue of resilience has been pursued seriously, addressing the idea of empowering cities to perform better in the event of an accident. Iran is a country where a large number of natural disasters occur, and the city of Qazvin is at constant risk of severe earthquakes, as indicated by research, due to the crossing of dangerous pressure faults in its northern part. In Iran, particularly in Qazvin, urban management has delegated responsibility for addressing disasters to a "crisis management headquarters." Given that the structure of the headquarters in Qazvin is similar to those of similar entities in cities with unsuccessful backgrounds of performance in addressing earthquakes in recent years, the main issue in this regard is how to change the structure of the headquarters so that it can perform more favorably upon earthquakes. This descriptive-analytical research considered the proposed headquarters structures and models as described in the UN documentations and those of countries having addressed such events successfully. Moreover, the variables and indicators examined in investigation of institutional resilience were identified. Qazvin’s crisis management headquarters was regarded as a dependent variable influenced by a number of independent variables, and its success depended on the conditions of those variables. In the analysis of the findings, the required factors were first identified according to the conditions of Qazvin through assessment of the variables and indicators using CVR (the content validity ratio). A survey was conducted of 30 urban planning experts, in which a total of 9 variables and 9 indicators were selected to obtain institutional resilience. A questionnaire was then prepared in the format of the Likert scale, where the questions were based on the tasks specified by the law for the different working groups at the headquarters and categorized on that basis, with the variable and the target index for each question specified. After a survey of 110 urban planning experts, the data were analyzed using SPSS. Using a Student’s t-test, the variables were assessed with different indicators for the headquarters under investigation. The results indicated a lack of concern for the 9 effective variables. Furthermore, a comparison of the structure of the headquarters to the models in use around the world demonstrated that it consisted of only two parts, including operating and administrative forces, unlike the successful models, which are composed of four main parts. It was also found that the above two departments of course need organizational reform. Thus, the headquarters needed to consider three measures to achieve institutional resilience. Firstly, the structure needed to be reformed to address the existing drawbacks. Secondly, the attitudes toward management needed to be changed from government to governance. Thirdly, equipment with new hardware and software technologies was needed for preparedness and prevention. The required measures in the above three areas should be taken simultaneously to exhibit the necessary effectiveness.
Urban Management
Andishe Ariana; Gholamreza Kazemian; Mahmoud Mohammadi
Abstract
Conflicts between urban regeneration stakeholders prevent full utilization of their participation capacities in areas with urban decline, and plans have not been fully realized as a result of conflicts since participation is a key element in urban regeneration. The main purpose of this study was to present ...
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Conflicts between urban regeneration stakeholders prevent full utilization of their participation capacities in areas with urban decline, and plans have not been fully realized as a result of conflicts since participation is a key element in urban regeneration. The main purpose of this study was to present the conflict management model of urban regeneration stakeholders in Iran based on institutional theory and collaborative governance. In a case study, the Hemmat-abad neighborhood in the city of Isfahan, Iran was considered according to the history of several measures taken and plans proposed for renovation and improvement of the distressed areas and the failure of the projects so far. Stakeholder conflict management can balance disagreements and conflicts between stakeholders of urban regeneration and lead to interaction, partnership, and collaboration among them, providing creativity and effectiveness and improving the implementation processes of urban regeneration projects. This article aimed to present a model for conflict management of urban regeneration stakeholders in Iran based on institutional theory and collaborative governance using the method of qualitative content analysis for the Hemmat-abad neighborhood. The components of the proposed conceptual model were presented through an investigation of the foundations of institutional theory and basic concepts including urban regeneration, stakeholder conflict management, and collaborative governance. Then, the proposed model was tested and analyzed for the Hemmat-abad neighborhood using the method of qualitative content analysis. For this purpose, the transcripts of the interviews made with the key stakeholders and the documents on reconstruction of the neighborhood were used after identification of the key stakeholders and their main conflicts. Finally, the conflict management model of urban regeneration stakeholders in regard to Hemmat-abad was derived. For presentation of the proposed model, the main stakeholders were classified using the power-interest matrix. After the identification of the key stakeholders, the types of conflict (cognitive conflicts, conflicts of objectives or interests, normative conflicts, and conflicts of relationships) between them were specified, along with the status of each in the intervention management process for regeneration of the Hemmat-abad neighborhood, to suit different conflict management styles (competition, collaboration, compromise, and avoidance). According to this model for Hemmat-abad, identified conflicts in accordance with the collaborative style held the highest priority to enter the proposed management model due to the lack of experience in the competition management strategy. A collaboration cycle could thus be established at the prescribed stage. In this model, three collaborative processes were used, including involvement and principled participation, capacity for joint action, and shared motivation using conflict resolution techniques, face-to-face dialogue in particular. In this case, dialogue was utilized as negotiation in order to establish the four components of trust-building, legitimacy, understanding, and common commitment with respect to the subject of conflict, leading to consensus between the conflicting parties. Thus, decision-making for achievement of a win-win situation means to meet the demands and expectations of both parties of the conflict. With effective conflict management between stakeholders, the proposed model was found to play an effective role in capacity-building and enhancement of the efficiency of the Hemmat-abad neighborhood renovation plan.
Urban Management
javad mahdianpoor; mohammad taghavi zavareh; hamidreza saremi
Abstract
Urban development, population growth, and intensified urbanization have led to a variety of issues such as physical distress and decay in most cities around the world. Besides triggering physical effects, this has imposed plenty of economic and social consequences on residential neighborhoods. Therefore, ...
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Urban development, population growth, and intensified urbanization have led to a variety of issues such as physical distress and decay in most cities around the world. Besides triggering physical effects, this has imposed plenty of economic and social consequences on residential neighborhoods. Therefore, it seems essential to investigate, assess, and acknowledge these consequences and to adopt solutions to alleviate the present conditions. The purpose of this study is to explain the urban acupuncture approach for improvement of the quality of residential neighborhoods and presentation of local solutions for management of the problems encountered in residential neighborhoods. In fact, the research seeks to address the notions, principles, and criteria in urban acupuncture in the urban neighborhood scale and apply them to the Tajrish neighborhood in Tehran, Iran. In general, urban acupuncture involves three stages of executive action. In the first stage, the objectives of the interventions are determined after an analysis of the conditions and dominant economic, social, and environmental system. Once the goals are defined, the intervention range is specified, and the points within each region, sub-systems, and stimuli are then determined. In the second stage, the measures and interventions pertaining to each point and the effects and results of the interventions are explained. The important point here is the necessity of appropriateness of the interventions to the conditions of each point and to the effective area for achievement of the desired and expected outcomes. In the third and final stage of measures, the intervention times are planned. The present descriptive-analytical survey involves a fundamental and applied study. The Tajrish neighborhood was selected as the area under investigation. It is a historic core of the city with an extra-local role due to its several potentials, but is confronted today with problems such as physical distress and decay and environmental, economic, and social issues. For evaluation of urban acupuncture solutions within the area investigated in the present study, the theoretical framework, tools, and solutions in urban acupuncture were first reviewed, and the systems affecting the physical, environmental, social, and economic aspects were then explained for specification of the zones of intervention. Next, we analyzed the results obtained by factors such as the influential beneficiaries, probable outcomes of urban acupuncture, and effective stimuli within the area using the method of network analysis and the DC, PRP, and PCI indicators. For the application of urban acupuncture stimuli to the intervention zones, they were then prioritized using thirty mental images for the examination of the residents’ spatial perception, Hierarchical Analysis Process (AHP), and the Expert Choice software, followed by an analysis of the intervention zones using the SWOT technique. A comparative method was used for presentation of the solutions given successful acupuncture experiences and the facilities and limitations of the neighborhood. The research results indicate that sites such as Tajrish Market, Maqsud Beyk River Valley, Arezu Park, and Museum of Music are the most sensitive points in the neighborhood for application of the intervention stimuli.
Urban Management
mohammad ali firozi; saeed amanpour; Javad Zarei
Abstract
Institutional collaboration in urban management is the result of activities between urban organizations that contribute to collective action and have characteristics of trust, cooperation, participation, interaction, facility, and integrity. Therefore, it reflects the formation of the role of urban renewal ...
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Institutional collaboration in urban management is the result of activities between urban organizations that contribute to collective action and have characteristics of trust, cooperation, participation, interaction, facility, and integrity. Therefore, it reflects the formation of the role of urban renewal of sustainable management of the actors in the areas of policy-making, administrative and executive management, and administrative development that facilitate institutional interaction. The present study focuses on the institutional capacity of cooperative management of renewed and worn fabrics of Iranian cities and the metropolitan Ahwaz in particular. The research method is an explanatory and descriptive approach to quantitative and qualitative analysis. Therefore, the required information was collected by reviewing reliable scientific documents, obtaining experts’ opinions in the field and conducting interviews with managers and staff member agencies. The statistical techniques of Pearson correlation coefficient and multivariate regression in the SPSS are used to analyze the data. Also, with regard to the social network analysis, UCI NET is used for the analysis of semi-structured interviews. The results showed that, depending on their role, each agency should promote institutional capabilities consistent with the related requirements and consider sustainable urban renewal as a default action. In order to fulfill the integrated management approach in sustainable urban renewal in the city of Ahwaz, it is essential that each institution has a participatory approach. It is worth noting that setting mutual relations between the players and cooperation among them must be based on a long-term program that takes public interests into account.
Urban Management
SEYED HADI HOSSEINI
Volume 5, Issue 20 , November 2016, , Pages 43-52
Abstract
In the recent decades, good governance has became one of the key words in the domain of Social Sciences. this research follows two main objectives: first, to study the status of urban governance in the city of Torbat Haydarieh and second, attempting to understand the differences and similarities in perceptions ...
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In the recent decades, good governance has became one of the key words in the domain of Social Sciences. this research follows two main objectives: first, to study the status of urban governance in the city of Torbat Haydarieh and second, attempting to understand the differences and similarities in perceptions and points of view of citizens and urban managers of good governance indicators in this city. Research methodology was based on descriptive – analytical method. For data collection, library documents and survey studies were used. Sample size included 383 residents over the age of 20 years old and 170 managers and experts in urban organizations. Research findings indicated that the total score of the urban governance index for citizens was equal to 1.98 while for urban managers and experts it was equal to 2.35. These results indicate that Torbat Haydarieh is not in a good state in terms of urban governance. The study results also showed that amongst the 9 indicators investigated in this research, the mean score of 8 indicators for citizens was less than the mean scores for urban managers and experts and only in consensus orientation and strategic insight indicators mean scores of citizens was higher than that of urban managers and experts. Moreover, the greatest disagreement between citizens and urban manager and experts existed in the two indicators of rule of law and efficiency and effectiveness.On the other hand, the greatest commonality between urban citizens and managers and experts existed within the parameters of transparency, accountability and justice. One of the most important findings of this research was the recognition of differences in viewpoints, perceptions and understanding between citizens with city managers and experts on some indicators such as the rule of law. Another important point in the findings is that there are similarities between the points of views of citizens with experts and city managers in regards to indicators including such as responsibility, transparency and justice. Existence of consensus on these three criteria, can be a turning point and a move in direction of implementation of urban good governance in Torbat Haydarieh. In regard the Participation Index as the first and perhaps the most important indicator of good governance, reviews indicated that one of the important commonalities in both groups is that they emphasize that the issue of participation in the mind of managers is unreal and they use this concept as a an instrument for personal and political advancement. Finally, the implementation of urban good governance in Torbat Haydarieh and maybe other urban areas of Iran, more than anything, requires strong political determination, particularly at high levels of government, and their belief in good urban governance. As long as this impertive issue don’t become an important point for all political and administrative authorities, implementation of good urban governance would not be possible.
Urban Management
Ahmad Pour Ahmad; Alireza Darban Astaneh; shiva pourghorban
Volume 5, Issue 19 , August 2016, , Pages 37-56
Abstract
Abstract
Urbanization development, issues and specific problems in urban life have more than in the past made clear the global attention to strategies and useful solutions for optimizing the life of urban residents. Amongst such topics as urban environment, urban safety, urban planning and urban development, ...
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Abstract
Urbanization development, issues and specific problems in urban life have more than in the past made clear the global attention to strategies and useful solutions for optimizing the life of urban residents. Amongst such topics as urban environment, urban safety, urban planning and urban development, urban management is a very crucial factor. City development strategy is a new tool to help development and it can be used for comprehensive and global tidal changes response management, urban poverty reduction and local economy development. Most strategies of urban development as a participatory process follow three main objectives: improving urban management, urban economic growth and poverty reduction. Tourism development is one aspect of national development which in various countries has a great role of importance in economic, cultural, social and political aspects and is an important tool for city development strategy.
The aim of this research is to investigate the role of city development strategy in city planning management to gain tourism development and economic and social prosperity on Hormoz Island. To achieve this goal, the following questions were raised:
1- Can strategic planning guarantee the development of Hormoz Island?
2- Can union of Hormoz Island and Qeshm Free Zone with an integrated management of Qeshm Free Zone Organization affect tourism development and prosperity of Hormoz Island?
The methodology of this research was based on descriptive, analytical and applied methods using laboratory investigation and field work method (interview and questionnaire forms) and findings were calculated by the use of SPSS software and chi square test. In addition, SWOT analysis was used for determination of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats, and the SOAR strategic model was used for strategic development, strength description, opportunities, aspirations result outcomes.
The development of tourism in the world needs an effectivemanagement system, strong and advanced infrastructure and improvement of required capacities. One of the most important factors in the tourism development in each region is management knowhow.
The results show that tourism development on Hormoz Island despite historical and natural attractions has had slow progressdue to a lack of required infrastructures, good management, services and social welfare. The future outlook of tourism on Hormoz Island is based on its becoming Free Zone in an efficient management system with the goal of economic prosperity and social development of the region in the three fields of historical, cultural and ecotourism – geotourism.
Document of future perspective:
Shores and Islands of Persian Gulf and Oman Sea, lying on natural, cultural and historical attractions, are some of the most important locations for tourism in the region. The Fourth Economic Programme for the Persian Gulf Coast and Islands focused on tourism as tourism can be developed to create jobs, earn foreign exchange and regional development.
It is recommended that in preparing a document for future visions, Qeshm Free Zone Organization should take advantage of the pristine natural, historical and cultural capacities of Hormoz Island for the development of the tourism industry and attract more tourists to this region through Hormoz Island economic, social and tourism sectors development in the three areas of historical, cultural and ecotourism - geo-tourism. to Using comparative and competitive advantages in terms of geographical location,in addition to the conservation and management of natural and cultural resources, favorable conditions for improving quality of life will be provided. Moreover, by establishing the appropriate infrastructure for tourism, attracting foreign investment, establishment of hotels and tourism facilities, as well as the creation of a competitive market with the Persian Gulf countries in the tourism industry, Hormoz and Qeshm Islands would be introduced as a gateway for tourism in southern Iran and the Persian Gulf.
Urban Management
Mousa Kamanroudi; taher parizadi; mohammad bigdeli
Volume 6, Issue 21 , February 2016, , Pages 51-64
Abstract
Objectives: Centralization and lack of efficient spatial planning approach from the 1950s is causing polarization of spatial developments in Iran. Tehran as the capital of the country and due to its diverse and important functions has experienced more polarization in this process. This process widened ...
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Objectives: Centralization and lack of efficient spatial planning approach from the 1950s is causing polarization of spatial developments in Iran. Tehran as the capital of the country and due to its diverse and important functions has experienced more polarization in this process. This process widened the development gap between the core and periphery areas and caused migration to the core, particularly to the region and city of Tehran. The poverty and marginalization of the migrants in the periphery areas formed the unauthorized settlements in these regions. This process overcomes the local, regional and national planning and management efforts. The Slamshahr-Robatkarim region is one of the periphery settlement areas of Tehran located in the southwest of the city. In fact, this study was conducted in response to the fundamental question: how did the process of settlements’ spatial structure develop during the period 1976 to 2015 in Slamshahr-Robatkarim? The hypothesis of this study is that it seems that migration from outside and political fragmentation from inside created the periphery and fragmented spatial structure of the peripheral environment in the study area. The study employed a qualitative, descriptive and analytic approach using secondary data, particularly the Landsat satellite images. The ENVI, ARCGIS and QGIS software were used for analyzing the data. The sampling population was the urban settlements in this region. Findings: The findings of this study indicate that the Slamshahr, Golestan, Nasimshahr, Robatkarim, Salehabad and Nasirshahr have experienced the highest to lowest physical development between 1976 and 2015, repectively. Consequently, the agricultural areas were diminished rapidly in this period due to the expansion of population centers to the farmlands. Urban settlements studied in this research (Slamshahr, Golestan, Nasimshahr, Robatkarim, Salehabad, Nasirabad) have exhausted spatial-physical rapid growth trend and population from 1976 to 2015. This process caused swallowing and digestion of agricultural land and the formation and development of cities. Thus, the number of villages located in the study area (Slamshahr-Robatkarim) fell from 125 units in 1996 to 72 units in 2006 and 2011. In addition, the study area of one town in 1976 grew to ten cities in 2011. In other words, about 53 villages became part of the integration process or developed into new urban areas from 1996 to 2011. This area was therefore faced with agricultural land changes turning them into to sprawl settlement between 1976 and 2015. Results: This process involved numerous internal and external causes such as favorable water and soil resources, communications road of Tehran-Saveh, proximity to Tehran, creation of jobs and manufacturing industries, plentiful and cheap labor, and regional and local divisions and weakness. However, immigration is the most important external factor in this process in this area. The process of centralization and polarization influenced the development of Tehran and its adjacent areas. In addition to migration as external factors, political fragmentation was the most important factor in spatial-physical process of change within the study area. This segregation or lack of structural integrity and functionality between Tehran state administration, Karaj Province, Ry province, Tehran provinces and the city of Tehran has been more severe in the decades 1961 to 1991. Land value of Slamshahr and Robatkarim was low during this period. Power and local political administration was poor in this area leading to provision of informal relations in the course of land-use in this area. However, after this period, the price of land and housing increased in Slamshahr and Robatkarim. During this period, immigrants moved to controlled remote locations from the city. Secondary settlements established immigrants (Nasimshahr, Golestan, Salehabad and Nasirabad) at this stage.
Urban Management
h n; n r; m r
Volume 4, Issue 13 , February 2015, , Pages 83-92
Abstract
Housing is a basic need and a major problem for most countries, especially in countries with rapidly growing urbanization like Iran. This factor along with the lack of a comprehensive housing plan and deficiencies in economic management have brought housing to the forefront of planning issues in this ...
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Housing is a basic need and a major problem for most countries, especially in countries with rapidly growing urbanization like Iran. This factor along with the lack of a comprehensive housing plan and deficiencies in economic management have brought housing to the forefront of planning issues in this country as a complex and multi-dimensional issue. Up to now many programs have been put forward by the government regarding the state of housing in different parts of the country. Mehr Housing which is a country wide social housing program has recently been the main subject of governmental actions for housing improvements. As stated by the government, this program seeks to provide affordable houses for the low-income, improve the quality and quantity of housing production, improve the environmental conditions specifically in metropolitan areas, attract individual and small capital to the housing sector, control the rapid fluctuations in land value, manage the growth of peripheries and in general improve the social justice status regarding housing. This program aims to achieve the mentioned goals by omitting the price of land for low-income groups of society and give them housing units using a 99-year lease. These units which have different conditions and characteristics with an average area of 75 square meters have been given to applicants in metropolises, big cities and medium ones. Due to lack of vacant lands within metropolises and big cities, these housing complexes are regulated to be located in new towns surrounding urban regions and their construction is only possible through the formation of cooperatives consisting of low-income members. This article attempts to discern the deficiencies of this program and consequently propose solutions for suitable housing through evaluation of Mehr housing policies in Iran. In order to do so, first the existing literature concerning the characteristics of housing in Iran and other countries were reviewed and 36 housing indicators were extracted which were then grouped into 9 criteria using factor analysis. Then, the indicators’ degree of freedom regarding Mehr Housing policies were measured. This was followed by regression analysis which was used to measure the effect of the factors and their degree of significance. Next, the priority rank of the factors was calculated. This ranking shows the priorities regarding the modification of policies. Results indicate that the “scheme and construction of the house and the surrounding environment” factor is the first priority followed by “placement and position”, “facilities and services”, “size of the housing unit”, “coverage of the in-need groups”, “economic justifiability”, “density”, “infrastructure” and “urban space” in order mentioned. Finally, solutions for improving Mehr housing projects were proposed based on the indicators in each of these 9 criteria. For example, in the case of scheme and construction of the house and the surrounding environment, the strategies and solutions should deal with the following indicators: relationships between neighbors, quality of design and construction, the quality of materials, seismic resistance, design of pedestrian corridors, green spaces and environmentally safe waste disposal sites.
Urban Management
P A; M A; E Z
Volume 3, Issue 12 , November 2014, , Pages 59-72
Abstract
This research aims to explore the relationship between the length of residence and the place-identity formation in new urban development in the case of the District 22 of Tehran. Based on this, the main contribution and orientation of this article is toward the length of residence among the other important ...
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This research aims to explore the relationship between the length of residence and the place-identity formation in new urban development in the case of the District 22 of Tehran. Based on this, the main contribution and orientation of this article is toward the length of residence among the other important criteria or factors in the process of place-identity formation in new urban development. In the literature review, based on the theories, views, and researches identified and cited for the above purpose, the significant and positive correlation between the length of residence and the discussed process is emphasized. This indicates a gradual, step-by-step and continuous formation and development of the place-identity through stability, sequence and continuity of mutual connection and interaction between the resident and residency over time. In addition, at the empirical level, in reference to case studies including Dehkadeh-Olympic, Cheshmeh, Rah-Ahan, and Sadra towns, respectively with 18, 16, 11, and 9 years as the average length of residence, this relevance is confirmed by analyzing the data using the Spearman correlation coefficient. To this end, the status of place-identity was assessed by synthesis of the eight criteria in total and for each town separately. The relationship between the length of residence and the place-identity formation has a correlation coefficient of 0.84 for 638 samples, in total. Hence, identification as the identity and sense of place will be promoted and enhanced by increasing the length of residence, especially in new urban development. This finding shows that the length of residence is an essential factor in the process of place-identity formation in new urban development. The correlation coefficients in Dehkadeh-Olympic, Cheshmeh, Rah-Ahan, and Sadra towns are respectively 0.75 for 154 samples, 0.85 for 157 samples, 0.87 for 166 samples, and 0.77 for 161 samples that were considered. Thus, the correlation between the length of residence and the place-identity formation is stronger in Cheshmeh and Rah-Ahan compared to the other towns. Based on the analysis conducted, estimation of this relationship is possible by all three types of regression, linear with a coefficient of determination of 0.64, logarithmic with a coefficient of determination of 0.60, and power with a coefficient of determination of 0.62. However, the fitness of the linear regression model is better than the other two. The coefficients of determination in linear regression are 0.56, 0.64, 0.66 and 0.57 for Dehkadeh-Olympic, Cheshmeh, Rah-Ahan, and Sadra towns, respectively. Consequently, analysis of this type of relationship illustrates that there is a positive strong significant correlation, well explained by the linear regression model, between the length of residence and the place-identity formation in new urban development. Therefore, any insight and vision on the mechanism of identification as the formation of the sense and identity of place in new urban development must be founded and operationalized by simultaneous attention to this fundamental fact. Accordingly, focus can be placed on the evaluation of this process, planning, and action for accelerating and enhancing it based on all the key criteria and factors with their specific roles and effectiveness.
Urban Management
M H; N S
Volume 3, Issue 12 , November 2014, , Pages 73-86
Abstract
Two decades after the Urban Collection Bill being passed in Iran, there are still some profound doubts both in theory and in administrative-organizational dimension. Many studies have been conducted in this field and even a great deal of experience in urban planning has as yet to make authorities achieve ...
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Two decades after the Urban Collection Bill being passed in Iran, there are still some profound doubts both in theory and in administrative-organizational dimension. Many studies have been conducted in this field and even a great deal of experience in urban planning has as yet to make authorities achieve an optimum and accepted model for managing and planning urban collections. The major reason is lack of attention to spatial and organizational realities and the structure of decision-making in Iran, lack of close scrutiny of administrative mechanisms and ignoring the necessity of planning approaches adapted to the administrative and planning structure of the country. The research in this adaptive investigation aims to make recommendations for some approaches to improve the management and planning of urban collections. This was carried out in three stages by referring to documents, books and articles related to this subject and studying the planning and management experiences in the two cities of Sydney and Toronto. As such, the facts and differences in Iran’s structure of decision-making and administration were considered. Selecting suitable and adaptable case studies is the key to success in comparative research. Thus, samples were selected based on the two criteria of (1) the macro-structure of planning in countries being studied (level of regionalism) and (2) the success of the selected metropolitan regions in planning and managing the growth. The research results lead to two types of general (pertaining to the macro level of planning) and regional (pertaining to urban collections) problems. Two groups of approaches are then suggested: (1) structural-management: to improve the administrative structure and the system of macro-decision-making; and (2) planning-management: to qualitatively improve the content of plans and programs of urban collections. The major approaches are to create an organization regionally responsible for urban collections to appropriate the duty of decision-making to regional bodies rather than regional branches of ministries, and to create a think tank that includes representatives of the institute managing regions to make major decisions. In the area of administration and programming problems, the suggested approaches include planning for land use, transportation and housing, emphasizing the principle of competitiveness and simultaneous synergy in the region (stress being on a strong relation between peripheral cities), and taking a cyclic approach rather than hierarchical planning for outlines.
Urban Management
m k; m b
Volume 3, Issue 11 , August 2014, , Pages 37-48
Abstract
Increasing urbanization has created many problems and the administration and management of cities are faced with new challenges. These problems in third world countries are higher. Most of these problems are related to the political structure of the country. Therefore, citizen participation in urban ...
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Increasing urbanization has created many problems and the administration and management of cities are faced with new challenges. These problems in third world countries are higher. Most of these problems are related to the political structure of the country. Therefore, citizen participation in urban governance in these countries is more necessary. The United Nations Human Settlements Programme of Action has strategies for achieving shelter for all, and has also proposed a move for the proper management and sustainable development of cities. These guidelines, approved by the General Assembly of the United Nations at the end of the twentieth century, have been set and implemented. Political systems can be centralized or decentralized. Generally, a non-centralized political and spatial system has more credibility amongst people. For this reason, local governments are one of the most important indicators of political and spatial distribution of power. Good governance also emphasizes decentralized political and spatial structure. In contemporary Iran, the concept of good governance and urban literature is abundant, but less attention is given to implementation of the legal field. Good governance is defined as the participative process in public affairs and where there is participation of the public sector, the private sector, and the government. It is argued that good governance is very essential for the management of urban development. However, little attention is being paid to the principles and potentials of the relevant laws in this area. This study aims to emphasize the role of good governance in the formulation of Iran’s and Tehran’s urban development laws and regulations. The major objective of this study is to identify and explain the degree of conformity between Tehran’s and Iran’s urban development laws and regulations with the principles of good urban governance. This study is explorative, descriptive and applicative in nature. The main sources that were used to collect the data required for this research include: 1. Organizational Law and Islamic Council's Mayoral Elections 2. Municipalities Law 3. Municipal Finance Law 4. Strategic-Structural Plan (Master Plan) of Tehran 5. Tehran landscape blueprints 6. Strategic plan of Tehran's Council 7. Medium-term action plans of Tehran Municipality 8. Long-term action plan of Tehran Municipality 9. Framework and approaches of Medium-term Action Plan of Tehran Municipality 10. Strategies for the implementation of the mandate Tehran Municipality 11. Budget of Tehran Municipality This study employed the Delphi method in order to conform the content of Tehran’s and Iran’s urban development laws and regulations to urban good governance principles. This study suggests that there is a relative orientation between those two issues. The rules of urban development of Tehran city conform and relate with the principles of good governance in 250 cases. The principles of ‘accountability’, municipal development laws, guidelines, and Tehran’s Municipality budget are the most accommodating. In addition, all of the contents of this research are the principles of good governance for cities. The regulations adopted by the City Council of Tehran Municipality have greater compliance with the principles of good governance. However, this direction has been developed with the aim of achieving access to good governance and urban planning. Thus, if these rules are implemented correctly, they can have an important role in promoting good governance in the city. This issue requires further research in order to expand this field.
Urban Management
A. M.; S. M. P.; S. M.
Volume 2, Issue 6 , June 2013, , Pages 31-42
Urban Management
Kayoumars Irandoost; Amin Amini
Volume 1, Issue 1 , March 2012, , Pages 91-108
Abstract
Urban development in the world, particularly in developing countries, has adhered various issues and complications. Nascent rise of towns, having urban-village nature is a phenomenon facing in many different countries including Iran. Role of towns in balancing regional development and life style in towns ...
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Urban development in the world, particularly in developing countries, has adhered various issues and complications. Nascent rise of towns, having urban-village nature is a phenomenon facing in many different countries including Iran. Role of towns in balancing regional development and life style in towns has resulted in attracting more attention in national and urban development policy-making in recent years. These towns with strengths and opportunities ahead are faced with many problems, especially in terms of financial management. Towns, with urban trends, have village simplicity nature and basically have the rural economic and social relations. Having special nature, these towns have their own problems (such as unstable financial resources, manpower and technical weaknesses, etc.); hence, require special management. With a new look to the urban management in towns, this paper deals with identifying and to some extend analyzing towns facing management problems. For this purpose, we analyzed the management problems through studying available documents and data collection using questionnaire and face-to-face interview with mayors of some of the towns in Kermanshah, Hamedan, and Kurdistan Provinces. The information achieved from this study reveals that the main issue faced by urban management in towns is financial issues and shortage of stable financial resources, accelerated by problems such as improper manager selection, lack of using available opportunities (due to the economical and management weakness). Our results indicated that financial support and stable income for town as well as utilizing experiences of private sector are among the essential requirements of urban management in towns. Meanwhile, these towns should fix the problems in the field of human resources, technical and show serious attention to the capacity building in various areas. Although the limited financial resources are the main factor fueling to other problems such as infrastructure defects, and technical and human capacities, but comparing different towns shows that urban management and innovation of urban managers as a determinant factor play a critical role in reducing financial and material problems in towns. Nevertheless, towns have their own particular social and cultural characteristics, which may result in creating opportunities such as beneficiary of the available social capital, and threats such as ignoring the present regulations.
